Straw-stacker.



3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- PATENTED MAY 23, 1905 J. B. BARTHOLOMEW.

STRAW STAOKER. grrmoumn nun MAY 26, 1000. RENEWED GOT. 27.1904.

Witnesses I :PATENTED MAY 23, 1905.

J. B. BARTHOLOMEW.

STRAW STAGKBR, ABPLIOATION FILED MAY 26, 1900. RENEWED OO'I. 27,1904.

- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Aviation: It.

UNITED STATES Patented May 25, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

JOHN B. BARTHOLOMEW, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO THE SATTLEY STAOKER COMPANY, OF IN DIAN- APOLIS,INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

S'II'RAW-STACKE'R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,340, dated May 23,1905. Application filed May 26, 1900. Renewed October 2'7, 1904:. SerialNo. 230,261.

To all whom, it may concern:

' ing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

. This invention relates to improvements in the machines for receivingthe straw from threshing and separating machines and carrying it upwardand backward to points remote therefrom and delivering it in such waythat stacks can be built therewith.

Figure 1 is a side view of a suflicient portion of a threshing andseparating machine and of a stacker mechanism embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section.Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of themechanism for oscillating the stacker from side to side. Figs. 5 and 6are detail views of the support or bracket of the outer section.

The stacking mechanism is herein shown as being attached .directly tothe thresher; but it will be understood that a number of the features ofconstruction which I have devised can be applied to stacking mechanismsof other sorts.

In the drawings, A indicates a part of the framework and casing of athresher and separator suflicient to illustrate the manner of applyingmy improvements thereto. At the bottom and the rear end of theseparator-frame there are sills or beams a, which extend backward toform a support for the stacker.

The stacker B is composed of two elements one at b and the other at b.idly secured together, the shorter bottom part I) being approximatelyhorizontal and the part at 6 being sharply inclined therefrom. It isarranged on lines approaching the vertical. At the upper end itisconnected with the section C by a hinge at c, this section beingarranged to swing vertically around the hinge. This vertically-swingingsection has combined with it an improved mechanism for swinging itvertically which I have devised. Hereto These are rig-- fore in machinesof this sort use has been made of elongated arms extending beyond the Uward to drums on a shaft mounted transversely of and extending from sideto side of the framework 7); but from practical experience withconstructionsof this earlier sort I have found thatserious disadvantagesare incident to them with respect to the application of power in liftingand'controlling of the swinging section. The arms connected to thatsection furnish a leverage which varies within wide limits according asthe section is in one or another of the positions in its path. One ofthe purposes of the present invention is to provide a lifting mechanismwhich shall be more nearly constant in its leverage irrespective of thepositions of the swinging section.

D indicates a curved rack concentric with the axis at c, it beingrigidly secured to the swinging section C. With this rack there engagesa pinion E, mounted on the section B. Preferably there are two of suchracks, one at each side ofthe part 0, Fig. 3, and two correspondingpinions. On the shaft E of the pinion E there is a sprocket-wheel F,with which, engages a chain G, which extends downward to and engageswith a second sprocket-wheel H, mounted on the shaft I, situated at aline low enough to be readily accessible from the ground and to which acrank j can be directly applied. two sets of said gearing F G H, one ateach side of the stacker, Fig. 3. When it is desired to move theswinging section O in either direction, it can be readily accomplishedby means of these parts. If this section is to be carried from itsrearmost position upward and I prefer to employ over the vertical planesand downward to the top ofthe thresher, the crank at f is turned or cordis used, as heretofore, it is necessary to rotate the power-shaft firstin one direction and then in the other, whereas with the presentmechanism, as above described, the swinging section can be carried fromone end of its path to the other by a continuous movement of the-crank.

The. curved rack D may be a continuous circle in case the section 0moves through all of its paths around a single axis, as when a singleelevator carrier-belt is employed, extending from the bottom of the partB to the outer end of the part 0; but when the part C is arranged todescribe part of its path around one axis and the other part of its patharound another axis, such as c, the rack can be shaped, as shown at (Z din Fig. 1, so as to have a part concentric with each of the axes; buteven in such case the pinion E will be adapted to be followed by the twocurves of the rack andeifect the entire movement of the section.

In another respect the present machine differs from those heretoforeused. It has been common-to use endless belts to elevate the straw fromthe receptacle or hopper at N, such belts extending from the inner sideof the hopper first horizontally to the bottom of the rising part I),thence upward through the latter, and either outward over the entirelength of the section C and then back over the latter, down through thepart Z), and under the hopper, or after reaching the top of the part I)returning directly down along the same. These long carriers, necessaryfor this work, are very objectionable, as they are apt to get out oforder and to be injured and displaced. One of the purposes of thepresent invention is to employ a superior mechanism for elevating thestraw through this part of the machinethat is, the part at b. I dispensewith endless carriers and employ in place thereof a reciprocatingelevator, as shown at O. This is formed of a series of bars P P, whichextend from the bottom to the top of the part I). Each of these isconnected to a crank 19 on a crank-shaft p. The throw of the cranks isso selected as that a wide opening shall be provided at the bottom ofthe elevator for the admission of the straw. Vhile the elevator-bars arethus adapted to be oscillated at their lower ends, they are provided attheir upper ends with suitable guiding means. In the constructionillustrated such means consist of rods or stirrups 0', fixed on the barsP and adapted to reciprocate in apertures formed in a transverseguide-bar R, the latter being fixed in the sides or frame of the part 5.Under the combined influence of the said operating and guiding means thelower ends of the elevator-bars will be caused to travel withconsiderable range of movement in elliptical paths, as indicatedindotted lines in Fig. 2, where the direction of such movement is alsoindicated by arrows. In order to facilitate the gathering in of thestraw from the hopper N, I prefer to provide the lower ends of theelevator-bars with hooks or teeth 1. The in ner faces of the lower endsof said bars are provided with notches, steps, or shoulders adapted toengage positively with the straw on the upward movement of the bars andelevated for a distance equal to the throw of the cranks p, and thestraw thus elevated is retained from downward movement by correspondingteeth orshoulders 2, attached to the bottom and rear board of theelevator-lrmne. Various forms of elevating and retaining devices may becombined with the bars P. Thus I have shown the upper part of theelevatorframe as provided with upwardly-pointing wire or metallic teeth1)", adapted to permit the upward movement of the straw, but topositively prevent its return. Cooperating with said teethareoseillating fingers 3, pivotally mounted at 4 on the elevator-bars instaples or eyes suitable for such purpose. Said linge-rs are preferablyU-shaped, as seen in Fl 3, each with its two finger portions lying atthe sides of the elevator-bar and extending across the straw-spacetoward the bottom or rear wall of the elevator. As the elevatorbar movesdownward the lingers 3 are free to turn in their bearings 4 into a moreorless upwardly-inclined position as may be rendered necessary by theresistance of the straw and in such position are free to move downwardor along through the straw until the elevator-bars have reached theirlowermost position. Thereupon as the bars are moved upward the fingers 3will turndown ward into a position substantially at right angles to theelevator-bars, in which position they are arrested by stop-pins 5. Thereafteras the bars move upward said lingers act eiiiciently topositively hold and elevate the straw. The mass of straw thus elevatedpasses from the part 6 through the throat 6, where it is delivered uponthe outwardly-traveling carrier Q, mounted in the upper swinging section0 between the sideboards or fenders 3i and the hopper-boards 35 of saidsection.

The crank-shaft 1' is provided with a chain wheel or pulley 7, which isengaged and rotated by a chain 8, driven in turn by a wheel 9 on a shaft10, mounted transversely on the bars 11, which form the top supports ofthe elevator and stacker frame.

With the elevating means above described I prefer to combine anoscillatory or otherwise movable hopper in the nature of a chute, by theaction of which the straw is fed to the lower end of the elevator. Tothis end 1 mount the hopper N on links 12 and 13, the former of whichare pivoted at 14 on the part b and the latter of which are carried by arockshaft 15. The latter is also provided with an arm 16, from which apitman 17 extends to a wrist 18 on the shaft By this means the hopper Nis oscillated bodily toward and from the elevating devices, and thefeeding of the IIS - straw toward the latter is promoted'by the 4 hoppermay be connected with the stationary part of the elevator by a striporsheet of flexible material, such as leather or canvas, to prevent thedownward escape of straw. The

- straw is delivered from the threshing-machine into the hopper N in anyusual or preferred manner, as through a hood 21.

Recurring now to the vertical oscillation of the outer section C andstarting from the po sition shown in Figs. land 2, said section willfirst turn (in the particular construction illustrated) on the axis 0,the hinge being furnished by the through driving-shaft 38 ofthe innerpulleys of the belt Q. This shaft and the section G by means of,brackets 39,.attached to its side boards or fenders, 34, are carried bylinks'36, in the lower ends of which said shaft has its bearings and theupper ends of which are pivoted at c to the stacker-section B by boltsor studs 37. The action of these links allows the inner end of thecarrier Q to be carried below the throat 6 and also in folding to turnover thepart 7). 40 indicates lugs on the said brackets, Figs. 5 and 6,which as the section O nears a vertical position will encounter the rearsides of the links 36 and prevent further turning of the sectionrelative to the links. Further turning or folding of the section 0 willbe in company with the links on the pivots 37 and axial line 0. At thetime when the lugs thus engage the links the centers of therack-segments d have been shifted to coincide with the line 0 and thelower ends of said segments will have reached the pinions E, so that thefurther inward folding of the section will be effected by the action ofsaid pinions on the segments 03.

The stacker-frame elements 6 6, together with the bars or frame 11, forma frame oscillatory in horizontal planes upon a vertical axis. The lowerpivot of this axis is shown at 22, fitting in a suitable bracket 23 onthe beams a. The upper pivot of said axis is indicated at 24:, on whichthe frame 11 turns relative to the frame 25, which latter is attached tothe thresher and carries any suitable,

oscillating mechanism. A suitable mechanism for this purpose-that is tosay, for oscillating the stacker in horizontal planesis fully describedin my said application, Serial No. 7 36,148, and herein illustratedsufiicientlyfor the purpose of the present invention. Of such mechanism26 is the horizontal gear or segment rigidly connected with the frame 11and concentric with the pivot 24. 32 33 are the pinion and worm-wheelfor driving the gear 26. 27 28 are the belt-wheel and shaft from whichthe wheel 33 is driven.

The shaft 20 is actuated by suitable gearing from a horizontal sprocket31, driven by a chain 30 from a sprocket 29, concentric with the pivot24:. The sprocket 29 is actuated by any suitable bevel or other gearingfrom the shaft 28. The belt Q, is also, by preference, driven bymechanism such as I have set forth in my said application, Serial No.736,148 that is to say, by a chain 41, driven from the shaft 10anolactuating a train of gearing 42, the upper member of which is asprocket and pinion on one of the studs 37, the intermediate member anidler-pinion on one of the links 36, and the lower member a pinion onthe shaft 38.

I do not herein claim, broadly, the outer same being the subject, inpart, of my application, Serial No. 18,098, filed May 26, 1900.

While I have illustrated and above described an entire mechanism indetailembodying my improvements, it will be seen to comprise features ofconstruction relating to one part of vthe mechanism, which while shownas coacting with other features of construction can nevertheless ,beemployed in conjunction with modified apparatus. For instance, the meansfor uniting the stacker pivotally to the thresher-frame, together withthose by which it is moved horizontally and vertically, are presented incombination with a specific form of straw-elevator associated with theinner section of the stacker-frame; but it will be understood that therecan be modification in this respect, and I do not in this applicationclaim the specific form of straw elevating or carrying devices, the samebeing the subjectmatter of a divisional application filed May 1, 1905,the claims herein being confined to the aforesaid means for pivotallymounting the stacker-sections and the means for effecting theirmovements.

What I claim is- 1. In a straw-stacker, the combination with the innerpart of the elevator having the lower part and the upwardly-rising partrigidly secured together, and the swinging section pivoted to the innersection on two axes eccen tric to each other, of the adjusting andlifting gear wheel mechanism for the swinging section, and the means forrotating the gearwheels, substantially as described.

2. In a straw-stacker, the combination, with the inner elevator section,having the upwardly -rising part with means therein for lifting thestraw, of the swinging section C pivoted to the inner section, thegearing comprising the eccentric racks D for adjusting and lifting theswinging section arranged adjacent to the pivot thereof, andpower-transmitting devices extending downward from the gearing,substantially as described. I

3. Inastraw-stacker, the combination, with the inner elevator section,having the up- -section hinged on two transverse axes, the

IIO

wardly-rising part with means therein for lifting the straw, of theswinging section C pivoted to the inner section on twoaxes eccentric toeach other, and the gearing for adjusting and lifting the swingingsection arranged adjacent to the pivot thereof, comprising curved racks,portions of which are concentric with one of said axes and portions ofwhich are concentric of the other of said axes, substantially as setforth.

4. In a straw-stacker, the combination, with a suitable support, of aswinging elevator or elevator-section hinged on said support, on twoaxial lines one above the other, and toothed gearing for causing saidelevator to swing upward first on the lower axis and then on the upperaxis.

5. In a straw-stacker, the combination of an inner upwardly extendingelevator section having an elevator or carrier, an outer stackersectionhinged on the first section on two axial lines one above the other andhaving a carrier, and toothed gearing for causing the outer section toswing upward on the lower axis with the inner end of the outer carrierbelow the upper end of the inner carrier, and

to swing backward on the upper axis to raise the outer carrier clear ofthe inner carrier.

6. In a straw-stacker. the combination of an inner upwardly extendingelevator section having an elevator or carrier, an outer stackersectionhinged on the first section on two axial lines one above the other andhaving a carrier, links 36 connecting said sections, means whereby theouter section after swinging upward engages said links to turn with thelinks on their upper hinge-points and toothed gearing adapted to causesuch swinging ol the outer section. I

7. In a straw-stacker, the combination of an inner upwardly-extendingelevator section having an elevator or carrier, an outerelevator-section having a carrier, and brackets 39 having stops 4:0, andlinks 36, connecting said sections.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. BAR'ITHOLOMElV.

